But Paul old chap - why do you call a requirement to log in - which is universal on EVERY other message board I have ever encountered (please tell me of any I've missed) - 'totalitarian'?

Why do people get angry at the very idea of a required sign-in?

It would still be up to the mods to decide what how they wanted to control the site - and knowing Joe and Max things would probably remain exactly the same, but at least they'd have to power, then, control in ways other than merely closing threads, leaving issues unresolved, bad behaviour rewarded, and restraint punished (as now).

They could reliably time people out, or ban (not that I'm in favour of that), they could close threads knowing that everyone could resort to PMs - many things they can't do now.

The issue of real names is separate and very much secondary. (I'm taking about a culture of encouragement, merely, on that).

Tom

By the way this is not 'belabouring the point,' Joan, I'm just maintaining my argument when questioned - and I do hope you approve of people being able to do that.